I am a solo war gamer endlessly searching for old Peter Laing figures, and the perfect war-game rules to use with them

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Peter Laing Machine Gun Cyclsts

At the Duchy of Tradgardland blog, tradgardland.blogspot.com the most recent posting had a post card and several illustrations of the 26th Middlesex cyclists. What really caught my eye was that in two of the pictures were that the cyclists had a machine gun deployed ready for action. The machine gun was on a carriage with what looks like bicycle wheels. And while searching for more pictures, I did come across a picture of a machine gun being towed behind a bicycle (unfortunately I didn't bookmark the page).

As I have mentioned in the past among my favorite Peter Laing figures is the Victorian Parade cyclist figure. I have tried to mold these figures in the past, and after seeing the Tradgardland blog, another attempt at this mold might be in order. I also thought of a Peter Laing machine gun model which I really had never had much use for; until now. I do believe this machine gun and the cyclist figure could make a reasonable war-game unit. It also reminded me of another Peter Laing bicycle figure that Ian Dury gave me of a WW1 Belgium cyclist. These figures would be well suited for Little Wars type of games.

10 comments:

Although the wheels on the machine gun are rather large, my games are played with "toy soldiers" and not "military miniatures" so it's something I can live with. When I order the next batch of rubber I will probably be attempting to mold both cyclist figures. They will add some interest to the games.

Inspirational figures.There were lots of others like tricycles used. Here is a link to some interesting piccies ripe with conversion ideas-http://www.25thlondon.com/cycling.htmKeep up the great work!Alan

Alen, Thank you for the link to the 25th London site. I think there is going to be some bicycle units in the future of my war-games. I have been gathering some reinforcements for you. I have found 1 RAF cyclist; I am going to see if I can found the other 2 if they still exist. My Airfix Confederates have gotten scattered so will take some more time to find. Ian forwarded me your address.

I spent my youth avoiding his minis as I got a sample at the age of about 14 (so 1975?) and didn't like it......you show what I have missed. I found some old ads if anyone is interested and put them on my own miniatures blog.

I wish I had his figures available when I was younger. I grew up on Airfix, and the first edition figures were, and still are, my favorite. I have visited your blog in the past and must add it to my bookmarks.

The fellow towing the m/g is marvellous! I've got one of Peter Laing's Russian Civil War (and it probably came under other headings too) figures of a motor cycle despatch rider, but it has such a look of T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) on his motor cycle when he was in the RAF, it is quite amazing.

I believe that I also have the same motor cycle rider you mention. It is another great Peter Laing figure. The problem with Peter Laing is you get easily distracted by other figures from other periods and it's hard to get a project completed!